Mississippi Edition

The statewide mandate has expired, but some local leaders are still requiring residents to mask up. 

And, UMMC conducts over 200 transplants per year. We examine how these life changing procedures have been affected by the pandemic.

Then, the President called for supporters to watch the polls on Election Day, but how legal is the practice?

Plus, in our Book Club, forty-seven poets associated with Mississippi are showcased with the aim of cementing poetry's place in today’s culture.

Segment 1:

New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have increased this week in Mississippi, and health officials have concerns about residents not wearing masks in public. Last week, Governor Tate Reeves chose to allow his mask mandate to expire, but some local officials are choosing to extend orders within their jurisdiction. MPB's Kobee Vance talks with Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton and Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs.

The expiration of the statewide is generating some concern among health care leaders. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says the state's equilibrium is unraveling. Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center Louann Woodward has recently stated she would have liked to see the mandate extended.  Aside from being the only Tier I Trauma Center, UMMC also performs over 200 transplants be year. Transplantation specialist Dr. Christopher Anderson says the pandemic has presented additional challenges for transplant recipients and doctors.

Segment 2:

The 2020 General Election is less than four weeks away, and President Donald Trump, who has been sowing doubts into the legitimacy of the election, has called for his supporters to watch the polls. The practice of poll watching varies from state to state, and watchers usually work for candidates or political parties to observe how the election is being conducted. In Mississippi, the Secretary of State’s office requires they be at least 150 feet away from entrances and only two are allowed inside. Damon Hewitt is with the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He tells our Desare Frazier the national organization is concerned about poll watchers or others intimidating voters.

Segment 3:

In Mississippi, the importance of poetry is cemented in today’s culture. In the book, “Mississippi Poets,” author Catharine Savage Brosman introduces readers to the poets themselves, stressing their versatility and diversity. Her book is both a source of information and a showcase. She tells us that the poets included span many years and work influenced by personal experiences and Mississippi itself.